‘That’s it,’ he muttered, bearing down on her again. ‘Take me.’
His hand swept lower, his fingers teasing the secret place where they were pressed close. She felt his rigid length deep inside, stroking her. It felt so good. Her mouth parted as her breathing became erratic and moans of excitement escaped. Her gaze was locked on his. She felt his determination, his approval as she tumbled deeper into a vortex of intensity where heat and darkness coalesced.
She cried out again as pleasure swept over her in a great wave. She wound her arms tight around him and literally rode him through it—the cause of her pleasure and her anchor through the storm of sensation.
And then...when she finally returned to calm...she refused to release him. She held his roughened jaw between her palms, looking right into his eyes.
His smile slipped a little. ‘Katie...’ Half warning, half praise. ‘You okay?’
She nodded. She could hardly speak for the intensity of her satisfaction. She simply sighed his name. ‘Alessandro...’
He smiled, then kissed her as if he was pouring his soul into her. ‘A little more,’ he whispered. ‘Just a little more. Okay?’
‘Yes.’
It was more than okay. She didn’t want this to end. She hadn’t had everything yet. She hadn’t had him shaking in her arms the way she’d shaken in his.
He smiled as he watched her, apparently able to read her mind. ‘Come with me this time.’
It should have been impossible. The orgasm she’d just enjoyed had been so intense. Only his words triggered a lick of electricity that she recognised. She felt the heat and damp of his skin, the tension holding him fiercely still as he locked against her and her own desire surged. She wanted him to let go too.
Primal instinct kicked in and her body took over. She curled her leg around his waist, locking him deeper to her, and slid her arms more tightly around his back.
‘Your instincts are good,’ he’d assured her. And he was right. Because this felt even better.
The look in his blue eyes became even more brilliant. ‘Katie—’
‘More, Alessandro. Please.’ She’d loved all his tenderness, but she wanted his passion too.
With a groan he pressed his hands beside her, levering himself up so he could drive deeper into her. This wasn’t pleasure. This was beyond anything that could be defined that simply.
Her lips parted as she panted with every pounding thrust. She squeezed him with her arms and legs, aching to hold him more tightly, more deeply inside her. She couldn’t get close enough. She still couldn’t get close enough.
‘Katie...’ he choked. ‘Katie...’ He lapsed into unintelligible Italian.
This was what she wanted.
This was even better than before.
The ripple took her by surprise, tearing through her, seizing every muscle, making her fingers like claws that dug into him. And he was the same with her—buried to the hilt and then some. Rammed together—clutching, kissing, totally connected—they shared every inch, every sensation.
‘I had no idea...’ she gasped.
It wasn’t a trickle of goodness. It was a river—a shimmering cascade of delight spreading throughout her body and beyond. Seeping into him too, into this bubble they’d created. This cocoon of such intimacy, such connection.
She’d never felt as close to anyone. Never felt as secure. Even if it was only for these few moments, it was the best feeling of her life.
‘Thank you.’
‘Katie...’ The lightest puff of teasing disapproval.
She couldn’t summon the energy to open her eyes, but she smiled a little sadly. ‘I mean it.’
He held her close and rolled, lifting her to lie on his chest. He cradled her as the last shivers of delight skimmed her skin.
‘Thank you.’ He released a long, satisfied sigh.
She’d not expected words of love—of course she hadn’t. But now she felt their absence. It was an alarmingly vast emptiness that ached.
That ‘everything’ she’d said she didn’t want from him...?
No.
She refused to recognise the extent of that yearning. This would only be a temporary pleasure. That was what it was for him. This gnawing feeling inside was simply lust all over again. Purely physical. She’d be satisfied with his body, his skill, and she’d have her fill of him.
And now, impossibly, when she’d been exhausted only moments ago, she was energised again.
‘Katie?’
Of course he’d sensed it.
His hands tightened on her waist and he shifted, sliding her beneath him.
‘Show me more,’ she said, and kissed him before he could answer, desperately drowning the doubt that was trying to curl its cold tendrils around her heart.
Oh, Katie, what have you done?
CHAPTER TEN
TROUBLE SLITHERED LIKE a clever snake, avoiding detection until it was too late to stop its strike. While last night had been wonderful, it had also been dangerous. More than she’d thought possible.
Katie showered beneath cold water, desperate to settle the confusing thoughts and feelings swirling in her head. It was just sex. Natural. Normal. Nothing profound. Nothing out of the ordinary. Yet her heart pounded. Instinctively she knew her response was more intense than ‘normal’. Her instincts were good, and they were right on this.
This wasn’t some ‘people-pleasing’ problem like Alessandro had teased her about. She’d been utterly unable to resist the temptation of him last night, and this morning that impulse was even stronger. She’d naively thought it would have eased. Wasn’t that what happened when you scratched an itch? It went away. It wasn’t supposed to itch more. Lots of people had casual flings or one-night stands and moved on.
Only she’d sunk deeper into the pool of infatuation. Truthfully, she was halfway to falling for him completely. He’d helped her. He’d listened. He’d been kind. But he also challenged her constantly, while invariably making her laugh at the same time, and that just made him magnetic. Add the way he could please her physically and she stood no chance.
She mocked herself for being sentimental—for weaving fairy tales into her fantasies. As a lonely teen she’d drea
mt of being swept off her feet and being ravished, of being taken away to some wondrous kingdom where she was safe and secure and loved for all time...
But Alessandro wasn’t Prince Charming. There was no happy-ever-after in his world. This was only fun—moments that meant nothing. Last night had been merely that for him, and while she knew that he’d truly wanted her, soon enough he wouldn’t.
Already that thought terrified her more than it ought. Because she knew too well how being unwanted hurt.
She had to protect herself—she had to be stronger. He’d told her to take what she wanted, but how could she when she knew she was putting herself at risk?
He’d also wanted honesty...and that she could give him. She’d grown some courage in the last couple of days. She could do what she needed to do—what was best for her.
* * *
Alessandro sat out on the terrace and scrolled through his emails, trying to distract himself while waiting for Katie to emerge. He’d slept late, but when he’d woken she’d still been in a deep slumber and he’d not wanted to disturb her, despite the ache in his gut tempting him to touch her.
Grimly he put the tablet on the table, giving up on any semblance of concentration on work. He shouldn’t have said yes to her, but he’d been powerless to say no when he’d wanted her more than he’d wanted anyone.
Unfortunately, he still did.
His skin tightened at the merest recollection. Unease tensed his muscles even more. Her lack of experience and her lonely upbringing made her vulnerable. Yet she’d teased him that he didn’t go into relationships deeply enough. Why would he need to when he’d never intended to get married? But now he had—and he didn’t want to hurt her. Somehow he needed to keep this from getting more complicated.
He gritted his teeth, because the obvious way was by shutting down the physical aspect of their relationship. Except all he wanted was to get back into bed with her.
‘Good morning.’
He glanced up at her soft greeting and couldn’t help smiling as colour flooded her face as she walked towards where he sat. There wasn’t a part of her he hadn’t kissed and yet she still blushed. He hungered to peel off her clothes and see that flush over all her skin. Right now.